What type of Visa do I need to play soccer in the USA?
I'm from Brazil, and have been in contact with some semi-pro soccer teams from the US. I'm interested in begin a career there. Could you help me with some information about the Visa and procedure? Thanks!
How can I become a Semi professional Soccer/football player in Europe?
I finished my playing career as a semi-professional player, due to my wrist injuries that kept me signing from a professional club.How you can become semi-professional depends on your age and how hard you're willing to work and where you live.However good you think you are, there is someone 10x better than you. Always. Unless you're Messi/Ronaldo.That being said, how can you become semi professional? Most semi pro clubs have try outs. You can simply try out or send videos to the head coach( they are more accessable than professional coaches). Then you fly out and have a trial period where you let your leadership qualities shine, both in the dressing room and on the pitch. And you damn well better HOPE you're playing at 100% of your skill, and digging deep to get 110%. You might think you're doing great, but the coaching staff can see how you're really doing. To be safe, play at 200%, fire all of your cylinders and go the extra mile to kick everyone's a$$ and push beyond all thresholds of pain. That way, the coaching staff can see you at 100%.That's how you become semi professional.To become professional, well, you're in for a very hard few months of pure training. Even then, you're unlikely to be on a squad.80% of people who try to play for a solid semi-pro team will fail. 15% will make the bench and never see a game, 4% will be substitutes, 1% will play every game.98% of all people who play are unlikely to be professionals. 1% will be on a bench/reserve squad and never see the day of light on the first team pitch or bench. .5 will be substitutes. And less than .5% will be starters.Out of 100,000 possible players for a semi pro aspiration, maybe 200 will make it.Out of 5,000,000 (using world wide total). Maybe 300 will make it.Work hard as hell, but also focus on studies, it gives you better chance of success in life. Keep working hard, make your self noticed, and a semi-pro team will notice you and sign you.
Can someone in the US who has a felony play in the Canadian Football League?
If a team is interested in signing you, they might be able to get you a Minister's Permit to allow you to come here. This was how that upstanding citizen Lawrence Phillips was able to play in the CFL.
I'm a 17-year-old Indian wanting to become a professional footballer. Should I go to Europe or get in any Indian football academy?
Firstly, you are 17 years old. You are too old to be taken into any academy in europe. You are now eligible for professional contract, hence you'd directly feature in U-19 squad.Secondly, BPL allows players from nations which have a ranking higher than 75 in FIFA rankings. India ranks 143rd. Also, UEFA uses a similar eligibility criteria.You should probably focus on Indian clubs and tournaments. Sunil Chhetri went to Sporting CP's second team for a year, and made only 3 appearances. He also went to US in Major League Soccer, but was soon back in India making 0 appearances. Sunil Chhetri is a noted Indian footballer with lots of experience, still he was unsuccessful abroad. This hints at the demanding nature of top clubs and also the lack of quality (we do not have top class coaching facilities) in Indian players. We need to up our quality to match the requirements of clubs abroad.PS : I'm not judging you or your playing ability. I have generalized the situation based on what I have seen in world football since 2003.
Can ex-cons play in the Canadian Football League?
Most teams have US tryouts in the winter/early spring (too late for this year, the season is well underway). Check the individual teams web sites for tryout info. There are links to them on www.cfl.ca If a team is interested in signing you, they may be able to get you a Minister's Permit to cross the border (as was done for Lawrence Phillips). You won't be able to cross the border otherwise.
I am 14 and want to play professional football (soccer) in Spain, but I live in the USA. Is it too late?
You started playing futbol at age 13 in the US and want to make it to the professional league in Spain? I hate to disagree with other answers, but your chances are very, very slim. If I were you I'd really focus on my studies. It is true that you should never stop following your dreams, but if your dream has "always" been to be a professional player, I don't understand why you would start playing so late in your life. Kids in Spain (or Brazil) start playing when they are 5 or younger and spend hours a week. By the time they are 10, if they are good, they are likely already spending a few hours a day training. Kids join top clubs like Barcelona or Madrid before they are in their teens. As a matter of fact, Messi joined Barcelona when he was 13!Again, it is fine to continue pursuing your dream. But, please, please, do not put all your eggs on that basket. Unless you are an incredibly gifted athlete there are really no chances of you doing that. And, even if you are, you need to be extremely lucky.
How old is too late to try and become a professional football (soccer) player?
Of course, I know nothing about your skill level. I will assume that if you were a prodigy you would not be asking this question.If you are blowing the doors off your U16 team, your academy is quality, and someone at the academy has said “You are something special”, then you might have a chance.Remember there is a large number of kids at 16–18 who are playing for EPL sides in the League Cup as well has token appearances in other competitions. There are more gifted types in the lower leagues as well. Also, there are kids at the age of six who have been marked for consideration, etc.Really, the 13 year old mark is a sweet spot. If you are not in an academy by then and playing very well, you need to be one of those “once in a million” late bloomers. There is a possibility of playing in lower leagues, but they are either not professional or pay wages equivalent to the dole.I do not want to discourage you, but you might want to just play for serious non-pro teams and see how things go. Keep your expectations realistic.YNWA
How can I join the Real Madrid Academy?
You dont just join a football academy dude. It seems that you are from Texas so this will make it doubly hard for you to have any chance of joining Real Madrid football academy. You know I like your USA attitude though, confident and aiming straight for one of the academies in the world. Unfortunately for you though you will need to be miles better than the players theu already have which by the way will be some of the brightest talent in the world. You will also have to go thru visa/work permits etc which to be honest I dont know enough about. But this may be a mointain that you cannot climb.As with anything you need to play at the highest level possible but again coming from the USA you are immediately up against it because competition is nowhere near as high as in Europe or South America. So you might think you are a good player because you shine more than others of your age in Texas but against simialar aged players who have been competiting at a high level since small children you will have your work cut out for yourself.To break it down for you.You have to be better than the players already in the Real Madrid Academy.There maybe permit/visa issues that you will need to find out about.You have to play at the highest level in the USA and be better than all of your team mates. Send videos of yourself to clubs across the US but it has to be you playing competative football. Keepie uppies is not playing football and will not impress any scouts etc.If you are good enough and determined enough you can do wonderful things but please dont be mistaken when folks tell you that hard will will reap its own rewards etc. In all honesty there are players all over the world who worked harder than most but were simply not good enough to go any further and play semi pro or non league or even amateur.Repeat the first bullet point.Repeat the first bullet point.Repeat the first bullet point.Repeat thr first bullet point.It is good to aim high but you havent even told us who you play for, what position you play etc.If it transpires that you dont currently and have never played football then to be perfectly honest you have little chance.